Donald E. Petersen

Donald E. Petersen, 82, of Manchester, died March 6, 2016 at his residence after a brief illness. He was born in Manchester on September 21, 1933 the son of Edward and Dora (Boisvert) Petersen. He was a lifelong resident of the Queen City and was educated in the local school system.

He was a proud veteran of the US Navy serving during the Korean Conflict. He was employed as a truck driver for various companies working most recently for Willey’s Express. Don loved music and was a gifted singer and artist. He performed in shows for the Knights of Columbus and was also the lead singer in the local bands “Misty” and the “Silver Stars at the Palace”. He also sang the lead role of “Tevye” in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” in the Silver Stars Show at the Palace Theatre. He was a member of the East Side Club, the VFW, the teamsters local and St. Anne’s Church choir. He enjoyed a challenging game of pool, darts, chess and cribbage. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He was predeceased by his first wife Jane (Harlan) Petersen, his granddaughter Kathryn T. Daniels, his sisters Rita, Ethel and Jean Ann and by his step-mother Phyllis Jean.

Members of his family include his wife of 40 years Sylvia (Gilman) Petersen of Manchester, his five daughters Sharon Petersen of Manchester, Ellen Petersen and her husband Thomas Peckham of Marblehead, MA, Eileen Seaters and her husband Russell of W. Sacramento, CA, Ursula Dubreuil and her husband Renald of Goffstown, Brandy Draper of Borbonnais, IL, four step-sons Victor Daniels, Steven Daniels, Leland Petersen and Eric Petersen, 16 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation was held on Wednesday March 9 from 4 to 8 pm at the McHugh Funeral Home 283 Hanover St. corner of Beech St. in Manchester. A Funeral Service was celebrated on Thursday March 10 at 10 am in St. Elizabeth Seton Church 190 Meetinghouse Rd. Bedford. Inurnment followed in the NH State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in Don’s name be made to the American Heart Association 2 Wall St. Room 104 Manchester, NH 03101 or to the American Diabetes Association 249 Canal St. Manchester, NH 03101.